From: PENDITA@aol.com Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2002 12:50:23 EST Subject: Thirty percent To: PENDITA@aol.com X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 113 PERCENTAGES THE SEED THAT FELL ON GOOD GROUND. Seed that was to be productive and yield a crop. It is the seed which was received into a hearing and understanding heart. There are three different groups or percentages of the harvest presented by Matthew. Mt. 13:23 Their disparity is the theme of this study. Some thirty percent, some sixty percent and someone hundred percent. Luke stated that the seed on good soil was the individual who was noble and of a good heart. Those who, when they hear the Word of God, retain it, allowing it to produce a good crop. Lk. 8:15 A COVENANT MADE WITH ISRAEL. Whereby the law of the Lord would be put into their minds and He would cause them to be written in their hearts. This is the NEW COVENANT that is in Christ Jesus. The old failed because of the weakness of the flesh. With the new, it is the power of the inbred WORD, which will bring to pass the keeping of the Covenant on the part of man. Heb. 8:10 That Word can only profit the individual when it is mixed with the faith of the Son of God. Heb. 4:2 The sign of belonging to the Lord is the acceptance of the WORD. Those who do not receive the WORD have no place in Christ Jesus. Jn. 8:47 THIRTY FOLD, THE CHURCH OF LAODICIA {meaning, judgment, punish or vengeance}. Thirty-fold is the least productive of the three measurements. This church is a church of great works, busy, busy, busy, with much of its time occupied with the secular rather than the spiritual. Rev. 3:15 It is a representation of the general church world of today. The church of the neither-nor, not cold, not hot but lukewarm. A situation that is obnoxious to the Lord. So much so that He stated He would spue (vomit, crude, but graphic} them out of His mouth. Rev. 3:16 Formalistic and ritualistic in its worship. This need not be construed as old church but any form that is repetitious until it becomes boring to man and to God. I HAVE NEED OF NOTHING. Perhaps, not even the Lord. The cause of a problem church; . Does this mean that the Lord wants us rich or poor? Both! Determined by the spirit and attitude of the heart. If we follow the pattern of the Word, our needs will be met. Jesus said; Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This must be the foundation of our lives as Christians. The Lord first and foremost. Mt. 6:33 Then Jesus warned of covetousness, greediness even fraudulent practices or extortion. The blessings of the Lord will not apply to riches obtained in such a fashion. Lk. 12:15 A strong desire, a craving for riches is a door for temptation and a trap, causing some to fall, literally drown in destruction and perdition. This is indeed a strong warning found in 1 Tim. 6:9 In this same chapter Timothy gave a special command to the wealthy, as to their attitude, their deeds toward others, their trust and confidence was to be in the Lord and not their possessions. Their generosity will be accounted for in the coming kingdom of God. 1 Tim. 6:17-19 In brief, Christian accountability, for all, in financial matters. A serious Word from the Lord that must be considered. Is our consolation, our comfort zone in riches or the Lord Himself? If it is in the worldly wealth, we have received our consolation, our comfort already. It has the ring of no future comfort. It is a woe, or a grievous plight. Luke 6:24 THE PREDICAMENT OF THE RICH CHURCH. There is complete blindness evidenced in this Assembly. Perhaps these are worldly wise but spiritually they are defunct. They are incapable to assess their spiritual poverty. The consolation of riches will have a fivefold consequence. Resulting in the individual being wretched and miserable {pitiable}, and poor {beggar}, spiritually pathetic. Blind, coming from a root word; meaning, to be high minded, to be lifted up with pride. Today the blind are leading the blind in a way that daily is shaping a segment of the church to conform to the Laodicean church. Naked, to be without the garments provided for us by the Lord. Rom. 13:14 We are to put on Christ. A DIVINE OFFER OF RECONCILIATION. Evidence that the love of the Lord is still extended to his church. I counsel thee. This is an opportunity to receive perfect advise from the Lord Himself. Rev. 3:18 The counsel of the Lord is a true guide in life and an assurance of heaven. Ps. 73:24 We have the counsel of the Lord with us constantly, the Word of the Lord. When we live by the BOOK we walk in His ways. BUY GOLD, buy truth, wisdom instruction and understanding. Prov. 23:23 Not just gold, but tested and tried gold. That which is in pure condition, having been through the smelting process. Now purified. The trial of FAITH, tested by fire. Whose value is evidenced at the appearing {revelation, coming, manifestation} of the Lord Jesus. 1 Pet. 1:7 This is true wealth. It is not only for our life span here on earth but it is for eternity as well. BUY, THAT YOU MIGHT BE RICH. Are we missing the mark by concentrating on natural wealth and not eternal wealth? So much time and emphasis is spent on urging Christians to become rich in the things of this world. Then that will make you spiritual. There is a tremendous temptation involved here. Having what we desire and more is greatly appealing to the carnal man. Here is some excellent counsel from the WORD. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world the love of the Father IS NOT IN HIM. 1 Jn. 2:15 May we always pattern our life according to His WORD. Put Him first, then, things will fall into place and you will be cared for. WHITE CLOTHING. The wedding gown. The purity and righteousness of Christ imputed to His Beloved. Rev. 19:8 ANOINTED EYES. How vital. Here is to be found vision and revelation brought to us by the ANOINTING, the HOLY SPIRIT. Eyes that are singled on the truth of the Word. Mt. 6:22 Eyes that comprehend the Word of the Lord and are able to see clearly His intents and purposes. Eyes that are filled with love and are fully focused on Jesus. The eye gate is the door to learning, both naturally and spiritually. The majority of that which we learn enters through the eye. We are to keep His Law as the apple of our eye. Prov. 7:2 PERCENTAGES 3 A WORK OF LOVE. Few are able to take rebuke or chastening without a desire to retaliate. In this instance it originates from the ONE who is very LOVE personified. He is love in its fullest. Perfect absolute love. His reprimand and correction are just. The recipient is always deserving. This is an action taken for our own benefit and spiritual growth. Rev. 3:19 REPENT. Straight forward and to the point. An accomplishment that must be exercised. Rev. 3:19 To feel that there is no need for those in the church to repent is to employ a spirit of self-righteousness. Of the seven churches in the book of Revelation, six are urged to repent of suffer the consequences. The urgency for repentance is seen in the usage of the word, ZEALOUS, to do what must be done in a passionate manner. A response with much fervor. A confession of wrong doing and turning away from that which is inappropriate to Christian living. HE STANDS AT THE DOOR. This message is not directed to the world but to the church and in particular to the members of the body of Christ. It is incongruent to visualize Him being left out of any heart and life that proclaims to belong to Him. Rev. 3:20 To stand at the door and be required to knock indicates that He is a visitor, while He should be an occupant. Hear His voice, it is the gentle voice of the chief shepherd. A voice of tender love and care. It is time to open the door widely and let Him enter in His fullness. He will sup, surely relates to the communion table. Lord haste the day when we reach full communication with you in your body and blood. 1 Cor. 11:24-25 A PROMISE GIVEN TO THE OVERCOMER. These are people who can be victorious, at least a percentage could heed the repentance call and act upon it. If they do, they are granted a place in the very center and throne of heaven, providing they repent and overcome. They would be in joint residency with the Son and the Father in His throne. Rev. 3:21 ONE-THIRD OF THE STARS CAST DOWN TO THE EARTH. The stars are representative of the saints. Consider Dan. 8:10 These are the thirty percenters who will be deceived by the antichrist in the end of the age. These have a reputation of being alive, might we say even evangelical but they are dead. They have a knowledge of the word but deny the working of the spirit. Rev. 3:1 The call of the Spirit of the Lord to them is to AWAKEN, to strengthen that which is about to die and perfect their works. They are urged to look back to their beginnings and take note of that which had been delivered to them. Follow the teachings that you have received. Be obedient to them. Turn in repentance to the Lord. Come alive. Be quickened. The Lord in His mercy grants seasons for repentance. PERCENTAGES 4 THE SIXTY FOLD CHRISTIAN. The church at Sardis is our example. A church of much activity. They were a group that were found doing many good deeds. Depending upon their reputation as being a lively church. Filled with spiritual activity that is a mere shadow of what they had been. But you are dead. What a shocking charge for those who had been complacently depended on their past, not realizing their loss. Rev. 3:1 WAKE UP. Be watchful, be alert, be vigilant. Rescue and establish the spiritual elements, that were once very evident and practiced but now are about to die. A group whose deeds are not perfect or complete before the Lord. They have not touched the perfection that is available for the church in Christ Jesus. This would not have been an issue if it had not been expected of them, by the Lord. Certainly His expectations for today are no different. Rev. 3:2 REMEMBER THE PAST. There is a time when we are to forget the past. Then there are things from the past that become the foundation stone of what is currently being built. The old paths can be a good way where we find great spiritual benefits. Jer. 6:16 REMEMBER, The rich blessings of the Lord in salvation, the infilling of the Spirit, and the zeal and fire it produced. Consider all the rich and precious experiences from the Lord. REMEMBER, the truths of the living WORD that you have been taught. Learn to evaluate them highly for the rich treasures that have been presented. HOLD FAST to that WORD. Let it become active and alive in your spirit. Repent, obey the WORD. Walk in the light of that which you have received from it. A stern warning. If you do not wake up. If you are not watchful, then I will come to you unexpectedly. Rev. 3:3 I WILL COME. There is most assuredly a reference here to the Second Coming. Rev. 3:3 This word is used by the Lord in the parable of the servants where the subject is His coming. Mt. 24:50 It is used again in relationship to the Lord coming as a thief in the night. 2 Pet. 3:10 If our anticipation of the coming of Christ is really that of then we fit into his sixty percent category. Jesus will not return to all of the church as a thief in the NIGHT. Night time is the time of darkness. It is time for the church to wake up. Perfect knowledge, is that Jesus will come as a thief in the night. 1 Thes. 5:2 The word of that day will be PEACE and SAFETY, then will sudden destruction, {like several women on the freeway, in rush hour giving birth to their children}, come upon them. v.3 We are to read the signs and know the seasons. Then and only then will we not be taken by surprise. Do we really expect Jesus to come at any moment? Will He come according to our anticipation or as He has declared in His Word? It is time to awaken out of slumber and buy the truth. PERCENTAGES 5 IT IS A GRIEVOUS THING. To hear the church leaders of our day tell of their plans to take the Gospel into all the world so that Jesus can return. Then in the next breath they say that He may come at any moment, even today. Did Jesus mean what He said? That this Gospel would be preached in all the world AND THEN THE END WOULD COME. Mt. 24:14 BE CHALLENGED TO THOROUGHLY STUDY THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. BUT YE BRETHREN ARE NOT IN DARKNESS. Thank God we are not living in darkness where there is no clear understanding of the plan of the Lord. 1 Thess. 5:4 That day WILL NOT come upon those who are not in darkness as a surprise attack. They will have read the signs of the seasons and will have recognized the fulfillment of the times. It is time to awaken and see that the night is far spent and the dawning of a new day is nigh. Put off deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Rom. 13:11-12 We are children of the light, children of the day. NOT of the night nor of the darkness. We do not anticipate that His coming will be as a thief to us. We are not asleep, not without comprehension of the things that have to be accomplished by the Lord and by His church before He returns. The exhortation of the Spirit is to be watchful and sober. Be clothed with faith, love and salvation. If we prepare ourselves accordingly we will escape the wrath of God that will be poured out in these last days of time. 1 Thes. 5:5-9 A FEW UNSOILED IN SARDIS. Not all in this category will be soiled with unrighteousness. They have a standard of Christian living and are determined to maintain it. The Lord would clothe His people with the garments of salvation and the robe of His righteousness. Isa. 61:10 Those who overcome, who live a victorious life, will be granted white robes, which is the righteousness of the saints. They will walk with the Lord, for they are worthy. Their names will not be blotted out of the book of life. This indicates to us that names can be blotted out of the book. There would be no reason to make this statement if names could not be blotted out of the book. This is extremely serious. THIS IS THE REMNANT OF THE WOMAN'S SEED. Almost a part of the Bride but falling short. Rev. 12:17 The dragon will attack the remnant of the woman's seed. These will be the martyrs of the tribulation period. They are seen clothed in white standing before the throne of the Lord. What are these dressed in white robes? Where did they come from? Rev. 7:13 They came from the great tribulation and gave their lives for the gospel. Rev. 7:14 They are seen again as those who will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years. They refused every effort of the beast against them. They were beheaded for their faith in Christ. Rev. 20:4 They are the sixty percent Christians.