I’ve been posting about our relationship to the Word of God. Specifically, how it works as seed in our lives. While I am responsible to accept God’s Word into my life, there is another aspect that I have no control over.
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
Mark 4:26-29
One of the most important concepts for us to understand is that the Kingdom of God is all about the Word being planted. This is a part of all that we do as believers.
As a pastor, my greatest assignment is to receive the Word in order to plant it again in the lives of those who hear me. Every Christian needs to be planting the Word into the lives of those around them.
With that comes the realization that nothing I do will bring about the growth of that seed, once it has been planted. From then on it’s out of my control. Once you plant the Word into the lives of your friends and family, it is time to wait – and that can be the hardest part.
Sometimes we want to force them to produce fruit. We try to convince and coerce. That’s usually when we start to push them further away. We need to learn to plant, then step back and let God provide the increase.
The Word, by its very nature, begins to grow below the surface. It cannot be stopped, but neither can it be hurried along. It goes at the pace God has set for it. One thing is certain; it will produce the harvest that God intended it to bring forth. This thought was echoed by the apostle Paul.
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7
We all have our part to play in the Kingdom of God. Some of us plant the seed and some water it. None of us can make it grow, that’s God’s department. The only help we can give it, once it’s planted, is in the watering process.
Question: Have you ever caused bigger problems by trying to force the Word of God to grow in someone?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: accept God's word, beyond my control, coerce, control, convince, force, God makes growth, God's word, growth, increase, kingdom of God, patience, plant, plant the word, produce fruit, receive the word, the word, wait, water the seed, word of God
I’ve been talking about excellence for a few posts. I want to finish up this topic by showing that everything God has for us in His kingdom is excellent.
The Greek word usually translated excellent in the New Testament is hyperballo. Hyperballo, literally means, to throw beyond. The word picture being used is of an Olympic sport such as throwing the javelin.
Everyone else has thrown it to a certain, average point. You, however, get up and throw it beyond all the others. That’s a picture of the concept of excellence. When you throw beyond the normal or what’s expected, then you’ve entered the realm of the excellent.
Here are some examples of how the word hyperballo is used of the Lord in the New Testament:
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 1:18-19a
The word that was translated incomparably great is hyperballo. Many people have a measure of strength, but God desires to work His power in us. This is a power that goes beyond the normal, the average or the expected. His power working in us is excellent.
In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:7
Not only does He desire to show us His excellent power, but He also wants to work His excellent grace in us. Most of us know that the grace of God is His unmerited favor. The favor of the Lord goes beyond what’s deserved or expected.
And to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:19
He also wants to show us His love that throws beyond knowledge. This love is greater than anything we have ever experienced before in our lives. His love goes further than we could ever ask, think, or imagine.
If you have ever received teaching on the book of Hebrews, you have probably heard that the theme of the book is “Better.” How much better the ministry of Christ is than any other! It incorporates a better sacrifice, a better priesthood, and better promises.
Why would anyone settle for mediocrity? Knowing who the Lord is should spur us on to excellence. His excellent power, excellent grace, and excellent love are the treasures that He is ready to bestow upon us. We only need to be willing to walk the high road of excellence.
Question: How have you experienced the excellence of God’s kingdom?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: average, better, beyond, excellence, expected, God, God's excellent kingdom, God's grace, God's love, God's strength, hyperballo, javelin, kingdom, kingdom of God, mediocrity, normal, Olympics, throw beyond
This will be my last post in my series about the Last Day’s weeding that the Lord will perform in His Kingdom. Jesus went on to underscore this message by telling another parable.
“Once again the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into a lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:47-50
The Lord tells us that the kingdom is like a net let down into a lake. This net has been dredging the lake for 2000 years now. It has caught a variety of fish. Some of the fish are good and some are bad.
There are people who claim to be Christians yet know nothing of the Biblical means of salvation. They’re relying on their own good works or their church membership instead of the blood of the crucified, buried, and risen Lord.
There are many that have heard and rejected the Good News because they like their own version better. They say things like, “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you believe in something.” The church universal is full of good fish and bad fish.
So what’s new about that? It’s been like this for hundreds of years. It will not go on like this forever. God is starting a separation process.
When the net is full, or literally, complete and finished, something new is going to happen. Angels are going to be dispatched to separate out of the kingdom of God those who really don’t want to be there on God’s terms. The word separate means to set off by a boundary.
In the last days God is going to perform a supernatural work that makes a clear distinction between His people and the world. Right now the church and the world look very much alike. Divorce, abuse, crime, and substance abuse levels are almost equal.
The end of the age is the time set by the Lord to cleanse His Temple. He’s going to show that there’s a difference between His kingdom and the world. It will soon become impossible to straddle the fence.
If you’re wise, you’ll make your decision now to serve Christ wholeheartedly. Don’t wait until the weeding forces you to make up your mind. Don’t miss out on a single thing that the Lord has planned for you.
We live in exciting times. If you go all out for the Lord, then I can promise you that you’ll be a part of the greatest adventure the world has ever known.
Question: How different should we be from the world?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: angels, Biblical salvation, Christ, cleansing the temple, devotion, distinction, end of the age, Jesus, kingdom of God, parable, separating fish, separation, separation process, serving Christ, straddle the fence, the last days, the world, wholeheartedly, works
I have been posting about the weeding that God will do in His kingdom during the last days. It’s recorded in Matthew 13:24-41. You can read my last few posts to see how the Lord will do this weeding.
The two things weeded out will be everything that causes sin and all who do evil. Along these same lines, Jesus makes a sobering statement in Matthew 18. I am convinced that most believers are unaware of what He meant when He said it. It’s usually taken out of context.
“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.”
Matthew 18:7-9
Whenever I’ve heard this Scripture preached, the message was always about personal sin. I’ve heard it taught, “It would be better to cut your hand off, than to continue in sin.” While sin does have the power to ruin your life, Jesus was speaking of something deeper here.
Notice the context. He wasn’t talking about physical body parts that cause sin. The Lord referred to the man through whom they come.
I can see countless examples of when my own hands, feet and eyes have participated in my sin. Yet, I cannot honestly say that the sin was initiated by that part of my body. Sin has always been conceived and planned out by my own will. My body had no choice but to follow my decision into sin.
Jesus knows that it’s not the body that initiates the sin. He’s talking about people who cause sin. When the Lord uses the term hand, foot, and eye, I’m convinced by the larger context of His teaching that He’s talking about His attitude toward His body – the Church.
Only in the Body of Christ can a member cause the body to sin. Please be warned. You may think that your role in the church is as indispensable as a hand or a foot. But, if you’re offending the body, the Lord has no qualms about losing a member to save the body.
Jesus is very serious about dealing with those who cause offense. This is one of the things we are going to see being weeded out of the church by God in the last days. As a matter of fact, I think that we’re already beginning to experience God’s cleansing process.
Make sure that your faith is bringing health to the body of Christ.
Question: What can you do to make the church a better place?
© Nick Zaccardi 1013
Tags: body of Christ, cause sin, Christ, church, cleansing, do evil, God serious about weeding, God's cleansing process, Jesus, kingdom of God, member, offend, offending the body, personal sin, the last days
I have been posting about Jesus’ parable found in Matthew 13:24-41. Did you know that very soon a weeding is going to take place in the body of Christ? Actually, I believe that it may already have begun.
In the parable, Jesus said that there were going to be elements of the enemy’s kingdom mixed in with His sons and daughters. In the parable the angels inquire, “Sir, didn’t You sow good seed into Your field? Where did all these evil ones come from?”
Jesus explains that it was the work of the Devil.
The angels then ask Him, “Do you want us to go pull them up?”
“No”, He answers, “because while you’re pulling up the evil ones you may root up, hurt, or destroy My sons and daughters. Let both groups grow together until the end of the age. At that time I’ll tell the angels, first collect the sons of the evil one, tie them up and burn them. Then, gather My people and bring them into My dwelling place.”
Here you can see that Christ is not so much concerned with the weeds that are way out on the fringes. It’s the weeds that are mixed up with His kingdom that He wants to do something about. As we approach the end of the age, there’s going to be a time when God starts weeding.
I’ve seen some things happen in my lifetime that were unheard of in the past. Ministries that we thought were incredible seem to have gotten plucked up because there were some things that were wrong going on below the surface. God is exposing sin and saying, “I want that out of My kingdom.”
I believe that as we get closer to the end of the age, we’re going to see more and more of God’s weeding going on. That’s what Jesus wanted to communicate to His disciples. Don’t expect to have a kingdom that’s perfect right from the start.
Instead, He warned them that on earth there was going to be people with impure motives in His kingdom. There are going to be people among us that are not really living for Christ. They may claim to be Christians, but they’re poisonous. In my last post I talked about the specifics of that poison.
As we approach the end of the age, we’re going to see a new move of the Spirit of God as He weeds His kingdom. I believe that very soon, a separation is going to take place. Just as Jesus said, the Son of Man is going to send out His angels to expose, uproot, and remove those things that are not a part of His plan for the church. We, as believers, must be prepared for this to occur by realizing that the hand of God is in it.
Question: Do you see this weeding process as already starting?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: angels, body of Christ, Christ, end of the age, enemy's kingdom, expose, exposing sin, impure motives, Jesus, kingdom of God, move of the Spirit, parable, remove, sin, the last days, uproot, weed, weeding, weeding the kingdom
In my last post I started talking about a parable found in Matthew 13:24-41. I believe it’s talking about the times we live in right now.
In it, Jesus explains that through the centuries, the kingdom of God and the world will mature alongside of one another until the end approaches. Then, as we get close to the return of the Lord, a weeding will take place. What is the nature of these weeds? That’s what I want to talk about in today’s post.
According to the parable, both kingdoms begin to sprout. You could also say they begin coming into fruition. The church is starting to become what God wants it to become. The closer we get to the ministry of Christ, the closer we are to harvest time.
The parable also tells us that the weeds are the enemy’s kingdom sown right alongside of us. The word Jesus uses for weed is a plant called darnel. It’s a special plant that looks exactly like wheat.
The downside of having it in your field is the fact that it contains a deadly poison. Not only that, but if it’s planted next to wheat you can’t tell them apart. As a matter of fact, everything about them looks the same until the harvest. At harvest time wheat starts turning that beautiful, golden color. Darnel, however, turns black.
If you were to eat darnel, it would cause sleep, convulsions, nausea, and even death. It’s a poison. It’s not good for human consumption.
So what Jesus is saying is that there’s going to be a battle going on until the end of the age. This is because two different families are going to be on the earth at the same time with two vastly different agendas. There will be two groups of people that are becoming two different kingdoms. One of those kingdoms is poison and one is life giving.
“The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.”
Matthew 13:41
First, He says that the angels will weed out of His kingdom everything that causes sin or literally, causes offense and stumbling. Wow! That’s probably half the battle right there. If we can get rid of the things that cause stumbling and that cause offense, living for Christ would get a whole lot easier.
The second type of weed mentioned by the Lord is all who do evil. Literally it says all without law. He is speaking here of those who are not submitted to Christ – they are without law. These people don’t care what the Lord wants them to do – they have their own agenda. Too many people in this generation are “serving” God on their own terms. That is unacceptable to Him.
If you find yourself in one of these two categories, take the time right now to repent and become a life-giving member of the body of Christ.
Question: Have you ever experienced the poison of these “weeds” in a church setting?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: are you a weed, Christ, enemy's kingdom, evil, Jesus, kingdom of God, offense, parable, poison, return of Christ, sin, stumbling, the last days, the world, weed, weeding, without law
I believe that we’re in the Last Days before the return of Christ. Did you know about the weeding that is going to take place in the Last Days? Christ taught about it during His earthly ministry. Very few people talk about it because it doesn’t fit into their view of the end times.
I want to take a few posts to examine this important concept. I think that it’s important for every believer to know what to expect on the road ahead.
The following is based upon the events and teachings found in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 13 and verses 24-41. I encourage you to read that passage first, before continuing this post. You will have a greater understanding of what I’m saying.
This is actually the second teaching given by Jesus concerning the last days. He gave it to the disciples in parable form.
At this point the disciples already knew that there would be a day of resurrection sometime in the future. They knew that on that day the graves would be opened. Someday all believers will rise with a new resurrected body. In this teaching, Jesus builds upon that knowledge.
In the parable, the Lord teaches about a farmer who sowed good seed in the ground. Secretly, an enemy sowed bad seed during the night. When asked what he would do about it, the farmer said that he would let both plants grow together until the harvest. That way he could tell the difference between the weeds and the wheat.
The disciples had no idea what Jesus was talking about. Later on in the day, the disciples found themselves alone with the Lord. They took that opportunity to ask Him about it. It’s Jesus’ explanation that I want to talk about.
According to the Lord, sons of the kingdom (that’s us), were sown into the world. But the devil also sowed his sons into the world. According to the parable there are two kingdoms, on earth, growing side by side. I believe that’s where all the spiritual tension comes from that we are presently experiencing.
The kingdom of God and the world are both headed in opposite directions. They have two different kings and vastly different goals. As we approach the end, both kingdoms are going to start developing to the point where they’re bearing fruit. The closer we get to the return of the Lord, the clearer we will see both the church of Jesus Christ and the world for what they truly are.
It is the overlap of the world and the church that causes the problems. This parable addresses what God intends to do about it in the Last Days. This is a very important subject. If you haven’t already done so, subscribe to this blog for email delivery, so you won’t miss any of the posts.
Question: How have you experienced the tension between the kingdom of God and the world?
© Nick Zaccardi 2013
Tags: Christ, disciples, end times, harvest, Jesus, kingdom of God, last days, parable, resurrected body, resurrection, resurrection day, return of Christ, second coming, side by side, spiritual tension, teaching, the world, two kingdoms, weeding
In Scripture we read about how different men and women encountered God in the wilderness. Did you know that this is still something we can experience today? In this post I want to describe it to you.
The Bible is full of accounts of the people who met with God in the outdoors. Here is one such encounter.
Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.
Genesis 32:1-2
The name Mahanaim means double camp. Jacob acknowledged that there were two camps where he was staying. There was his camp and the camp of God. This is important because now that Christ has risen, we are in a “double kingdom.” We live in the world, yet at the same time we are in the kingdom of God.
Wherever we go, whatever we do, we take this heavenly kingdom with us. Whether we realize it or not, we have access to God’s kingdom at all times. Our problem is usually the distractions that keep us from seeking the spiritual.
I just returned from a camping trip. I spent a night, alone, in a nearby state park. I set up my tent at a secluded site and settled in.
The purpose was to get alone with God for a while. You might think that this sounds a little extreme. Maybe it is, but I’ve found that I can hear from God better without all of the distractions in my familiar settings.
When God gets me by myself like this, He can (and does) get my undivided attention. There are times He deals with me about things I may have been neglecting. Sometimes it’s about God teaching me something new, or giving me insight into the Word.
This trip I can truly say that God showed up in the camp. There were some things that He worked through with me and I received an “extreme makeover.” Looking back, I wouldn’t have missed that time with the Lord for anything else.
If you read through the Gospels you’ll find that praying in the wilderness was a major part of the life of Christ. I believe that this is one of the secrets of His intimacy with the Father. I want to follow His example.
The good news is that this type of encounter with God is available to every one of us. If you are able, I encourage you to give it a try. Go out with a tent and other supplies. Bring your Bible and a notebook. Then expect to meet with God.
I believe that He honors our desire to seek Him intimately. The Lord loves the quality time we spend together. Then He can deal with things that take time to work through.
I can truly say that spending alone time with God in the outdoors is an incredible blessing.
Question: Have you encountered God in the outdoors? Could you share about it?
© Nick Zaccardi 2012
Tags: camp, camp with God, camping, distractions, encounter God, intimacy, kingdom of God, Mahanaim, meet with God, outdoors, quality time, undivided attention, wilderness
James 1:18
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
This verse is referencing our Heavenly Father. In the book of James He is called the Father of Heavenly Lights. It is His light shining on us that brings us life. In His love and wisdom He sent Christ into the world to bring us life.
This verse is clear. We have been given a new birth. A birth that was not of flesh and blood like our original entrance into this world. This birth was through the Word of Truth. I believe that James is referring to something more than the Bible, as wonderful as that Word is. It is a Word that speaks to our inner being.
One of the names of Christ is the Word made flesh. He was not a matter of ink and paper coming alive. He is the living and enduring Word of the Most High God. Christ said of Himself, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” He is the direct expression of the Word of Truth.
It is through this Word, Christ Himself, that we have been given new birth – if we have accepted the free gift of His salvation. He did this so that He could begin the renovation of the human race in us. That is what the last part of this verse is all about. The firstfruits of all He created.
This is the beginnings of the kingdom of God manifest on earth. Right now it is difficult to see. It is taking root in the hearts of men and women throughout the world. But they are changing, becoming what God intended them to be. His Kingdom is starting in us.
The more time I spend in the presence of that Word, the more I become like Him. Don’t ever take the presence of the Lord for granted. It is a privilege to have access to the throne room of God. It was paid for by the precious blood of Christ. Let the living Word do the work in you that only He can do. Spend quality time with Him today.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christian, devotion, disciple, encouragement, firstfruits, God the Father, God's word, Holy Spirit, holy worship, intimacy, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, living word, new birth, overcoming, presence of the lord, revival, testimony, word, word of truth
1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
Paul’s words to us are very clear. When it comes to power in the kingdom of God, we better do more than just talk. The problem is that most of what is called power in the kingdom today is just that – talk. The first step toward walking in the power of God is to understand what true power is all about.
Let’s start by looking at things from a natural perspective. When we talk about “power” it is usually in the context of electrical power. We use phrases like power lines, power plant, and power outages. We think of electricity as being a form of power. This can help us to understand spiritual power.
Very simply put, the definition of power is the same whether you’re talking about electricity coming into your house, or the power of God to heal the sick. The International Edition of the Webster Comprehensive Dictionary defines it in the following way:
“Power is the ability to act. It is the property of a thing that is manifested in effort or action, by virtue of which that thing produces change.”
Let me boil it down for you. True power is the ability to produce change. That’s the key word. It takes power to transform water at room temperature into hot water for a cup of tea. It takes power to get a one-ton car to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour. It takes power to transform a body from sickness to health. It takes power to change a liar into a saint. It take power to replace guilt with innocence.
If we understand this correctly, then the verse above should bring new understanding. It’s our assignment in the Kingdom of God to produce change. It’s not about how well you can speak about it. Change is the priority. Is the church producing change?
You have to remember that this passage was written when Christians were the people who were “turning the world upside down”. In light of this, how powerful is the kingdom of God today? In order to answer that we must ask, how much change is being produced in the church today? The unfortunate answer is – not much. In most churches around the country not many are being healed, set free from sins, or seeing great growth in their spiritual lives. It seems that we have become masters of talking as if there’s power in our lives.
We say things like, “That was a powerful message.” Or, “We had a powerful service last night.” I have also heard, “She has a powerful anointing to sing.” Speaking of singing, one of the biggest areas in which we fall short is in our songs. We come to church on Sunday mornings and sing a host of songs about the power of God. Then we sit back and think that because we just sang about it, somehow that means we are walking in it. What I have found in actuality is that most of our “power” is usually just words.
If no one leaves the service changed, then there was no power manifested in the service. There are plenty of unsaved actors and singers that can evoke an incredible emotional response from their audience, but that’s not power. People weeping during the service is no indication of any power. We have learned to cover over our powerlessness by calling emotionalism power. The bottom line is – no matter how many people wept, no matter how many chills ran down your spine, no matter how many people were slain in the spirit – if no one was changed, then there was no power.
Do you want to walk in the true power of God? Then you need to stop talking about it, and admit your lack – if that is the case. We need a true, Biblical knowledge of what it is and how to use it. We need to seek God for a touch from His hand. That’s where true change – true power – originates from.
Tags: ability, Bible, Christian, church, devotion, electricity, emotions, encouragement, faith, glory, God's faithfulness, God's power, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, overcoming, power, powerful, producing change, strength, talk, victory
I’ve been posting about our relationship to the Word of God. Specifically, how it works as seed in our lives. While I am responsible to accept God’s Word into my life, there is another aspect that I have no control over.
The Spirit and the Word 